Destination Phoenix! 5 fans journey from down under to the valley!

by SDU on Nov 9, 2008 8:24 PM MST

Ed Note from Phx Stan:

All right Suns fans. Time to step up and show these guys from down under how we roll. If they are dragging their asses all the way around the world to watch our team then we can meet them for one game in Phoenix on Feb 2.

I've secured 6 tickets for BSoS and will be giving a couple away when I think up a suitable contest. In the mean time I am looking for a bunch of locals to step up and sign up for this game. Upper level corners - $32 a seat.

We need to move fast to get our group in there together.

Email me at phoenixstan at gmail dot com to get your tickets. Do it now!

Here's the full story from our adventurous fellow fanatics from down under...

Some of you may have read this on other suns forums, but its a journey we are trying to share with suns fans everywhere so it would be negligent of us not to let the fans here at BSotS about the journey

The suns are a classy organization from management right down to the players and support staff. So its no wonder that so many international fans with no ties to any NBA cities, choose to support the mighty Suns. In some cases these fans are even more die hard than some locals, having to take days off just to watch big games, getting up at 3 am for live playoff matches, watching grainy stop start low quality streams on 15 inch monitors just to see the suns somehow, and even traveling the 30 thousand plus km's just to catch a regular season game live.

That last scenario is about to take place, with 5 die hard suns fans from Australia and New Zealand (only 2 of which have met each other before) getting together in January to make the trip to the USA with the sole purpose of cheering on the suns and seeing some games live!

Myself from Adelaide, South Australia, as well as 4 other members of the Suns Planet Orange website ("Tastic" from New Zealand, KPCB from South Australia, "Nevetsov" from Brisbane Australia, and "NF33IH" also from Adelaide South Australia) will be leaving from Sydney on January 12th, 2009 and after brief stops in Berlin and London will be landing in Toronto on the 18th of January ready to catch the suns first game of a season long 6 game road trip.

We have hired a 12 seater, and will be following the suns through all 6 stops on the trip, Toronto, Boston, New York, Charlotte, Atlanta and Washington, before flying from Washington to Phoenix (WOO HOO!) to catch games against the spurs (BOO), bulls and kings, hoping to enjoy a Superbowl party somewhere and then leaving the great state of Arizona on the 3rd of February heading back to Australia via New Zealand (ending a complete trip around the globe just to watch the suns)

Were going to be blogging on Planet Orange and ill post them here as well all the way, right from the start to the finish, with details on planning, things that go wrong, things that go right, posting videos, reviews of each game, city, stadium, photos etc, we all hope that it gives the international suns fans (of which there are many) an insight on what its like for die hard suns fans to finally get to see them in person!

If you have any advice, comments, are we mad to try and drive that road trip (6 cities in 8 days?) or anything, we love to hear any input anyone might have.....

The finale of our trip is the Suns Kings game on February 2nd, and were hoping to get the loudest, craziest, die hard suns fans to get together to rock the stadium like its never been rocked before! we have a group booking arranged with the suns and anyone who would like to join in the fun, don't hesitate to ask and i can send you the details!

until next time, go suns!

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man even reading my own post i get excited about the trip hahaha

by SDU on Nov 9, 2008 2:43 AM MST 0 recs

trip

So I hear there’s a trip planned.

Looks ok…I guess

by TASTIC on Nov 9, 2008 3:06 AM MST 1 recs

I am one of those 5 people and well let’s just say that I can’t wait. Haha

by Never Fear 33 Is Here on Nov 9, 2008 4:19 AM MST 1 recs

Awesome!

This is a trip of a life time – I am Orange with Envy!

We are honored to host the tales of your travels along with Planet Orange and will be working to get a big group together for the Feb 2 game.

I already bought 6 tickets for BSoS and will be posting more on this soon. Stay tuned!

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Nov 9, 2008 8:38 AM MST 0 recs

Sounds great!

I’m now considering that I have to join you!

Suns Re-ignited.

by ZonaFlash on Nov 9, 2008 11:36 AM MST 0 recs

Good luck with this one

I’m a die-hard fan of the Suns who lives in Greece and I’ve been always dreaming of the moment visiting Arizona in order to watch the Suns… and I’m sure that will happen, especially if us Greeks don’t need Visa card anymore to visit U.S.A. Again good luck with that, you gonna definetely have a great time!

Greece is bleeding orange! Don't lose your faith in the Suns!

by Giannaros on Nov 9, 2008 12:45 PM MST 0 recs

I was just in Athens a few months ago.

Those girls were kamaki-proofed! I’ve never been shut down so hard. It’s taken months to recover my self-esteem.

Suns Re-ignited.

by ZonaFlash on Nov 9, 2008 1:24 PM MST up 0 recs

lol

I feel you man! Hopefully you had a good time here in Athens other than that… :p

Greece is bleeding orange! Don't lose your faith in the Suns!

by Giannaros on Nov 9, 2008 1:31 PM MST up 0 recs

the food was good. too many smart cars =)

Had a great time.

Suns Re-ignited.

by ZonaFlash on Nov 9, 2008 1:49 PM MST up 0 recs

Have Fun

Let us know if you need any help navigating around Phoenix

"Yeah I could have been king, but maybe I already am king. Hail to the king baby." Ash from Army of Darkness

by Turambar on Nov 9, 2008 8:40 PM MST 0 recs

Destination Phoenix!!

I agree SDU everytime i re read over some of these blogs it gets me more and more excited.

by KPCB34 on Nov 9, 2008 11:33 PM MST 0 recs

Yip

The whole thing is kinda surreal. Seems like yesterday I was counting down 88…87… days of work…Now it’s TWENTY NINE!!

by TASTIC on Nov 10, 2008 1:48 AM MST 0 recs

boo

29 for you maybe :-(

by SDU on Nov 10, 2008 1:52 AM MST 0 recs

true

That 29 is only a little lower than the NZ$ vs US$ though for me!

Check.

Mate.

by TASTIC on Nov 10, 2008 2:21 AM MST 0 recs

conversion rate

has been an absolute KILLER for this

exchange rate was 1 ozzy dollar bought .98 US c when we started booking and it got as low as 1 AUD for .59US, but its currently sitting at .69 – how is it for you tastic?

added a few K straight away to the trip

by SDU on Nov 10, 2008 3:46 AM MST 0 recs

exchange rate

Yeah..NZ$1 buys me about US$0.59…it got down to 54 last week and they thought it might get to 45!!

by TASTIC on Nov 10, 2008 11:22 AM MST up 0 recs

Does this all mean

that the dollar is stregnthening?

Kind of nuts that would happen given our…er…impact on the global economic crisis. We get to be the big boys that spilled the milk but still benefit from it. Unless you are Walmart and a huge importer in which case the strong dollar drives up prices for cheap crap.

Anyway – glad you guys are coming! I am sure we can all scrounge together enough currency to buy you a beer.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Nov 10, 2008 11:30 AM MST up 0 recs

que?

Not to disagree, but my novice view is that a strong (US) dollar is good even for WalMart, b/c they can buy even more cheap crap, or higher quality cheap crap.

The US took its devaluation licks all last year. China now owns Hawai’i, just like every other economic power has in their heyday. =)

Suns Re-ignited.

by ZonaFlash on Nov 10, 2008 12:45 PM MST up 0 recs

Dreaming...

Wish I was the 6th Aussie joining the trip – I’ve got to say I love the support from the Bright Side guys – just another example of how good Suns fans are!

by dang on Nov 10, 2008 4:37 AM MST 0 recs

I hope all you Phoenicians

Are getting in there and buying up these tickets. This finale is gonna be one hell of a night.

by Never Fear 33 Is Here on Nov 10, 2008 5:05 AM MST 0 recs

Destination Phoenix Entry 2 - As written by tastic

Preparing to go around the world in search of the Valley of the Sun.

A sextet of international basketball fans with intent to bask in the collective glory that is the Phoenix Suns, and follow them like an ice cream truck follows a fat fighter’s convention.

Have to admit I thought this day would come, but not so soon, or with random internet buddies who go by the names SDU, Never Fear 33 is Here, KPCB34, rodrizzle and nevetsov. At least there’s no ‘funboy12’, ‘Kobe#1’ or ‘han_solo_is_my_dad’ type nutjobs in for the ride (Lakers, Mavericks and Spurs fans need not apply). We might even meet up with a German on the way, Moe – JustMoe – just for schneetz and geegles.

Apologies in advance to all those who have to read the spiel that will undoubtedly spew out every orifice of the lone Heat supporter on the trip, rodrizzle. And all things considered, 83% ain’t bad!

Many an arm and a leg are tied up in Destination Phoenix, some would say an excessive amount. I wouldn’t, and as the old proverb goes, ‘the poor man’s budget is full of schemes’. This isn’t a scheme per se, moreso a dream that is finally being realised, and something that can’t have a price tag put on it. None of us are millionaires, and to spend so much money and time away from family, friends and the comforts of home, I think, shows how much the team means to us.

Our Motley Crue will be assembled on January 12 th 2009 in Sydney, Australia, ready to board a plane and partake in a beverage or four to take the edge off the early start to the morning.

As sunsdownunder mentioned in the previous blog entry, there are a couple of stopovers on the way, in Germany and the UK, so any people wanting to meet up for a chat can get hold of us through this website.

Rodrizzle will meet us in Toronto, as we follow the Suns on their season long six game road trip starting against the Raptors.

We’ll be covering the many miles in a people mover, equipped with slide door, cup holders, and perhaps some poker and sing-a-longs, as well as the countless recollections of Suns moments both past and present. Leg space will be at a premium, as will support for myself as the only non-Australian on the trip!

Thankfully, the great people at Planet Orange and suns.com answered when we came calling asking for any suggestions and/or assistance, even having the courage to splat sunsdownunder’s mug onto their frontpage. Hopefully you, the readers, are not turned away from the pasty spectre greeting you (I know, a pale Australian, I’m as perplexed as you are).

Bookmark the page, tell your friends, your gardener and your hairdresser, and come have a look-in from our viewpoint as international Suns fans, and most of all enjoy the ride ‘cos we sure will!

Tune in two weeks from now for the next update.

Same Suns time, same Suns channel…

GO SUNS!

Cheers

Mace / TASTIC

by SDU on Nov 12, 2008 4:45 AM MST 0 recs

cough

Add in Bright Side of the Sun too! This was written well over a month ago!
Thanks to everyone showing interest and providing valuable input along the way
cheers

by TASTIC on Nov 12, 2008 11:00 AM MST up 0 recs